The exception says where smaller than the branch circuit conductors. It does not say anything about ampacity in this regard. However this infers the equipment cannot have a load rating less than the 20A required for the minimum ampacity of tap conductors.To continue playing the role of devil's advocate, appliances with whips like ovens and cooktops generally have no termination compartment that's accessible without disassembly (vs. dryers which have an electrical access panel). So it's possible that the manufacturers have decided that common house wiring should not be terminated within a certain distance of the unit. In that case, the high temp wire they use could actually be considered an extension of the appliance itself. If that were the case, how could it also be considered the tap?
To continue playing the role of devil's advocate, appliances with whips like ovens and cooktops generally have no termination compartment that's accessible without disassembly (vs. dryers which have an electrical access panel). So it's possible that the manufacturers have decided that common house wiring should not be terminated within a certain distance of the unit. In that case, the high temp wire they use could actually be considered an extension of the appliance itself. If that were the case, how could it also be considered the tap?
Art. 210.19(A)(3) exception1 states that the conductors that are part of the leads supplied with the appliance that are smaller than the branch circuit are tap conductors
... In your experience are the factory whips normally long enough to reach a common tap box and allow servicing ?...
I considered the aspect of unfastening the JB, but then rationalized that wiring methods are intended to be permanent. So unfastening a JB temporarily would not figure into an allowable tap method. However, there is nothing which prevents the JB from being secured to the appliance....
I thought earlier about the requirement to fasten a j box in place as Smart$ noted in his post (#21), but it still might be advantageous to a service tech to have the extra length even if he had to temporarily un-fasten the box.
TN State Code requires a separate branch circuit for each appliance so we don't see the taps in use. In your experience are the factory whips normally long enough to reach a common tap box and allow servicing ?
I thought earlier about the requirement to fasten a j box in place as Smart$ noted in his post (#21), but it still might be advantageous to a service tech to have the extra length even if he had to temporarily un-fasten the box.